ACORN quick to collect from feds, but slow to pay taxes

09-01-2009 • The Examiner

The Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) is perhaps best known for its volunteers' habit of signing up fake voters. This has resulted in numerous state investigations and convictions of ACORN members for voter fraud activities. But the group is also a tax scofflaw to the tune of more than $1 million, according to documents unearthed by another Louisiana-based non-profit, the Pelican Institute. Pelican researcher Steve Beatty has come across dozens of outstanding and released tax liens against ACORN and ACORN affiliates, headquartered at two addresses in New Orleans. Although some of the liens have been paid, Beatty found that several are still outstanding, including a $547,000 lien by the federal government against ACORN itself. ACORN, a non-profit, must pay federal Social Security and Medicare taxes for its employees, as well as state unemployment taxes. Even as it keeps Uncle Sam waiting for tax payments, ACORN's cup runneth over with f